Eight finalists named for DuPage board vacancy
A former Glen Ellyn village president and the town's village clerk are among eight finalists seeking to replace the late Jerry "JR" McBride on the DuPage County Board.
County board Chairman Dan Cronin reviewed applications from 34 candidates interested in the District 4 board seat that's been vacant since McBride's death on Oct. 24.
That list has since been narrowed down to the eight finalists. They are: Michelle Moore of Wheaton, Mark Pfefferman of Glen Ellyn, Karyn Romano of Glen Ellyn, Timothy Elliott of Glen Ellyn, Catherine Galvin of Glen Ellyn, Robert Gans of Glen Ellyn, Lawrence Lavanway of Glen Ellyn and Alan Bolds of Wheaton.
On Saturday, Cronin is hosting a forum to give the candidates the chance to make their pitch for why they should represent District 4 for the remainder of McBride's term, which expires Nov. 30, 2016.
"We've got eight worthy candidates," Cronin said. "We have questions that we're going to pose to them and we'll evaluate their performance on Saturday."
Board members Grant Eckhoff and Amy Grant will join Cronin in asking questions during the forum, which is scheduled for 10 a.m. Saturday in the county board meeting room on the third floor of the county's administration building, 421 N. County Farm Road, Wheaton.
Among the Republicans looking for the appointment is Pfefferman, who served as Glen Ellyn's village president from 2009 to 2013. He also was a village trustee from 2003 to 2007.
Other notable names on the list are Glen Ellyn Village Clerk Galvin and Elliott, who has been a Glen Ellyn trustee since 2013.
Another finalist is Alan Bolds, who served on the Wheaton City Council from 2003 to 2007 and was a Wheaton Warrenville Unit District 200 school board member from 1997 to 2003.
Cronin said all eight candidates have either served or demonstrated their commitment to the community.
He said the person he ultimately picks must have an expertise, be substantive and understand the dynamics of working together on a team.
"I like people that take the initiative and contribute," Cronin said. "We want talented people. But we also want people that understand how to build consensus and work together. That's imperative."
Cronin is planning to name his choice for the vacancy in time for the full county board to take a Dec. 9 vote on the appointment.
District 4 includes all or parts of Addison, Bloomingdale, Carol Stream, Glen Ellyn, Glendale Heights, Lisle, Lombard, Wheaton and Winfield.